ESPN’s The Last Dance has come to an end, but the critically acclaimed docuseries is still having ripple effects within the sports realm. For instance, a recent follow-up special broke down the biggest takeaways from the series and featured several notable guests. Aside from this, those who were featured in the doc have some thoughts on how they were portrayed. One of these people is former Chicago Bulls player Horace Grant, who Michael Jordan accused of leaking locker room information. Now, Grant claims that Jordan’s statements are untrue.
Back in the ‘90s, investigative reporter Sam Smith published a book titled The Jordan Rules, which chronicled the Chicago Bulls’ first championship run. The book’s depiction of a heated locker room, which included infighting and strenuous practices headed by Michael Jordan, caused controversy at the time. As of result, many have speculated about the possibility of leaks within the locker room. Horace Grant, a longtime friend of Smith’s, has been accused by some, including Jordan, but he believes the star player is only holding a grudge:
It's only a grudge, man. I'm telling you, it was only a grudge. And I think he proved that during this so-called documentary. When if you say something about him, he's going to cut you off, he's going to try to destroy your character.
Horace Grant wasn’t exactly happy when he appeared on the Kap & Co podcast. In addition to declaring that he never shared information, Grant also stated that the situation should be discussed between him and his former teammate:
Lie, lie, lie. ... If MJ had a grudge with me, let's settle this like men. Let's talk about it. Or we can settle it another way. But yet and still, he goes out and puts this lie out that I was the source behind [the book]. Sam and I have always been great friends. We're still great friends. But the sanctity of that locker room, I would never put anything personal out there. The mere fact that Sam Smith was an investigative reporter. That he had to have two sources, two, to write a book, I guess. Why would MJ just point me out?
Horace Grant was drafted by the Chicago Bulls during the 1987 NBA Draft and, within a year, he would move into the starting lineup. In time, he, Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen would become one of the most powerful trios in the NBA, leading the Bulls to three consecutive championships in the early ‘90s. Following Jordan’s retirement in 1993, Grant became the team’s second star, before signing with the Orlando Magic.
Over the years, there have been several theories regarding the leaks that led to the publishing of “The Jordan Rules,” and many have not yielded concrete answers. Whether or not further details will come to light remains to be seen.
The Last Dance is currently available to stream on ESPN.com and will also be headed to Netflix this summer.
